Guest Blogger: Easy & Smart Tips for Painting Your Home

 Guest Blogger 1K+, July 7, 2013

Out of all the DIY home improvement projects that you can do, nothing comes close to painting your house’s exterior when it comes to the return on investment of time and effort. A nice exterior paint job not only increases the perceived value of your home, it also helps protect it from the elements.

Painting your house’s exterior should be done as soon as you notice peels, cracks or blisters. If you delay repainting, it could result in a more expensive repair job that involves more than just painting.

Colorful kitchen orange

Image via: Pinterest

Paints: The Basics

There are basically two types of paint that you can use for painting the exterior of your house. It could either be water-based or oil-based.

Water-based latex paint can be washed using soap and water. It doesn’t smell like the oil-based paints. Latex paints are less likely to crack since because they stay flexible for a longer period of time. Latex also dries faster.

You won’t be able to clean up oil-based alkyd paints. You’ll need paint thinner. They have a strong smell and dry slowly. Alkyd paints, however, are durable, resistant to stain, and flow very smoothly.

You can choose any one of these types of paints. However, make sure that you use the same type of paint as what was initially used on the house. If you have to use latex paint over alkyd paint, use a primer first to make the paint adhere better.

How to Save on Paint

Regarding prices, the most practical tip is to buy the best paint you can afford. Cheaper paints have lower pigment content and you may actually end up spending more to achieve a healthy coat of paint. The more expensive paints also last longer. You can actually save money by buying the higher quality paint.

Helpful painting tips

Image via: Jurnalde Design Interior

Prepping the Surface

Chalky residue, grime, dirt and mildew must all be removed from the surface so that the new coat of paint will adhere. Scrubbing the surface with a stiff bristle surprisingly doesn’t really take a lot of time. Make sure that you bury all the nail heads and put exterior-grade putty in the holes. You’ll have to sand the putty after it cures.

Painting over old paint is okay if it’s in good condition. If there are parts where the old paint is damaged, scrape the paint off and sand it. For exposed wood, make sure to use primer first before painting.

Paint Brush or Roller?

You’ll need to use both. On wider surfaces, use a roller. On hard to reach areas, use a brush.

Pro Tip #1: Sunlight can make the paint dry quicker than ideal. This will make the paint not adhere well and thus it will peel off sooner. To avoid this, work on the shaded part of the house. Alternatively, paint the house when the sky is a little cloudy but not likely to rain.

Pro Tip #2: Start painting at the top. This way, paint won’t drip on the finished areas.

Pro Tip #3: Avoid lap marks by painting from one wet area to another. You may have to paint over dried paint.

Tom Faulkner likes to make home improvements on his own. He also contributes to www.GosuReviews.com, a site that helps customers smart purchase decisions.

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